Cooking InstructionsSpread outsides of sandwiches with butter. Cook in a preheated panini press 2 to 3 minutes or until golden.

Pick a sturdy bread

Raisin-nut bread

French bread

Slider buns or dinner rolls

Challah or brioche

Pumpernickel, rye, or hearty white bread

Choose a cheese

Brie, Gruyère, or Swiss

Sharp white Cheddar

Creamy goat cheese

Blue cheese

Cream cheese

Spread some flavor inside

Apple butter

Coarse-grained, Dijon, or honey mustard

Herbed butter (for outsides of sandwiches)

Fruit preserves or pepper jelly

Add a favorite topping (or two)

Caramelized onions

Sautéed apples or pears

Sliced fresh fruit or vegetables

Dried apricots

Fresh herbs

Thinly sliced deli meat

Cooked bacon slices

Smoked salmon

Chopped toasted nuts

Five Combos We LoveWe particularly love these inspired, melt-in-your-mouth concoctions paired with these affordable wines recommended by wine director Richard Robinson of The Wine Shop at Western Supermarket in Mountain Brook, Alabama.

1. Salty-Sweet Bacon PaniniBrie with apple butter and bacon on raisin-walnut bread.Wine suggestion: "For white, try a Chenin Blanc, such as Champalou Vouvray from the Loire Valley ($17) or a California version such as Ballentine Vineyards ($17). If you just have to have red, then try Beaujolais or California Pinot Noir."

3. Caramelized Onion BlissBlue cheese with caramelized onions and sautéed pears on brioche or challah bread.Wine suggestion: "The intense complexity of ingredients calls for a wine of equal complexity, but one that will complement, not compete. Leitz' Dragonstone Riesling ($16) would be a great choice, but any good-quality Spätlese or even Auslese-level Riesling would be wonderful as well. A village-level red Burgundy or an Oregon Pinot Noir such as Stoller ($21) would be fine choices for red."

4. Fancy Ham and CheeseGruyère with coarse-grained mustard, thinly sliced ham, dried apricot halves, and toasted pistachios on French bread slices.Wine suggestion: "A vibrant rosé comes to mind, such as exhilarating Bandol ($29 to $34) or slightly softer version from Cassis ($29). A less expensive option is the fruity-yet-dry Tempranillo version from Cune in Spain's Rioja region. Domaine du Fonsainte 'Gris du Gris' from Corbieres ($13) would also work beautifully."

5. Creamy Dill and Salmon BitesCreamy goat cheese with smoked salmon on hearty white bread brushed with dill butter.Wine suggestion: "The obvious choice here is Sauvignon Blanc, such as Neil Ellis ($14) or Southern Right ($13). The smoked salmon element opens the door to a top-flite Pinot Grigio, such as Jermann ($22)."